OZ Whitehead Firesides

Part 1/2 - Philomena Clifford will be exploring the extraordinary life of Martha Root, one of the first Western Bahai’s during the early 1900s. Her story reads like an adventure and affirms the observation that history well written is as interesting and fascinating as fiction. Her life is so full and so rich – it cannot be contained in one session! She circled the Globe four times in her ardent desire to convey the beauty of the Baha’i Faith with its timeless message of international peace and unity. For Martha it was like a priceless gem which she spent her life sharing with Kings, Queens , Presidents; students; the general public and the many employees and passengers on board ships and trains she took around the world.

Philomena’s career began as a linguist, teaching French, Spanish and English as a foreign language. Then followed a short career in the airline industry. She had a childhood interest in profound deafness and eventually undertook a BPhil Degree in Audiological Studies, leading to a career of teaching young profoundly deaf students. Here she realised the power of biographical stories to inspire, uplift and to convey confidence in the power of the human spirit. She then went on to complete a Masters Degree in Virtue and Character Education which inspired her work with students and particularly the transformative effect of story.

Queen Marie of Romania (1875-1938), one of the most admired Queens of her time, was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Czar Alexander II, both recipients of personal Tablets from Bahá'u'lláh. She learned of the Bahá'í Faith at the beginning of 1926 from Martha Root, an American Bahá'í journalist who traveled around the world to share the Message of Bahá'u'lláh. This is the story of the relationship Queen Marie had with the most recent of divine Revelations, then less than a century old. Della L. Marcus is considered an authority on Queen Marie of Romania, having spent about a decade researching her life, both in the Holy Land and in Romania, specifically the last years when the Queen became acquainted with and enthusiastically embraced the newest world religion, the Bahá'í Faith. Della has two published books, "Her Eternal Crown: Queen Marie and the Bahá'í Faith," and an abridged version of this story published in Romanian, soon to be available in English, entitled "Queen Marie: An Instrument in Greater Hands

This musical presentation of the Long Healing Prayer - was originally set to music by Anthony Harmer of Gyenyame.

It’s a 19 minutes meditative piece and we invite you to join us in the refrain:

Thou the Sufficing,

Thou the Healing,

Thou the Abiding,

O Thou Abiding One!

Please concentrate your mind on anyone you know who needs healing at this time.

If possible please show a picture of the person you would like to direct healing thoughts toward on your Zoom screen, or post their name in the chat box.

Listen to their beautiful songs and prayers

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEOjQMeYHnd8oQwNG7AZpaQ/videos

In the last 200 years, the human race has experienced an explosion of change and progress in every sphere of human endeavour, be it science, technology, arts, politics, individual action and social consciousness. These are historic times in which we have the privilege of living, and that according to the Baha'i writings must provide us with the realisation of the oneness of the human race and a wish to act with hope and enthusiasm to contribute to our communities and society at large. Baha'i writings point to spiritual dynamics which propel humanity to experience these unparalleled and historic changes, foretold by philosophers and religions of the past. Semira will explore some of the dynamics of our time with particular reference to the Baha'i writings

Semira Manaseki-Holland is a Paediatrician and Public Health Physician with 30 years experience of living and working as a doctor, health service manager, policy adviser and researcher in the UK, Geneva (WHO Headquarters), Mongolia, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Currently Semira lives with her family in the West Midlands, conducting research in health systems and community development projects in low and middle-income countries, including in Africa and Asia, and teaches at the University of Birmingham. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/k2-SxVEDL-o

The presentation will focus on the guidance in Baha'i teachings to engage in social action; efforts in Northern Ireland to put that guidance in practice in the context of escalating violence (and some of the direct interventions of the Universal House of Justice that pointed us in the right direction); and how the development by Baha'is and friends of junior youth groups and other activities in Belfast has demonstrated the transformative potential of such actions.

Tara and Erfan Fadaei were both born into Baha'i families. Tara grew up in NI in one of the most contested spaces during the conflict - the Garvaghy Road in Portadown - the scene of massive riots that brought all of NI to a standstill. She worked for a period in London before returning to Belfast. Erfan grew up in England and lived for a year in Tanzania before moving to Belfast. They have both been instrumental in developing a programme of activities to support young people in the neighbourhood where they are living.

Edwin grew up in the small market town of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh and, with friends, was involved in community initiatives from an early age. In 1987 life changed fundamentally when 12 friends and neighbours were killed as a result of the Remembrance Day bomb in the town. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/hUINtfqjq7s

During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, some of the early Baha’is made the long pilgrimage from Persia to Akka to attain the presence of Baha’u’llah, the Founder of the Baha’i Faith. Haji Mulla Mehdi of Yazd was one such pilgrim, who in the company of his two sons, took the arduous journey on foot to pay homage to his Beloved. This journey of love enflamed the spirit of sacrifice and service in the hearts of Haji Mulla Mehdi’s descendants, giving rise to three Hands of the Cause of God, and two Trustees of Huquq’u’llah across three generations. This is the story of their journeys.

Faraneh Vargha-Khadem is one of the 22 great, great, grandchildren of Haji Mulla Mehdi Yazdi, and one of the three daughters of the late Hand of the Cause of God, and Trustee of Huquq’u’llah, Dr Ali Muhammad Varqa. Professionally, Faraneh is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health in London, UK. She is also the Clinical Academic Lead for the Department of Neuropsychology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Her research is focused on early brain injury and the development of brain circuits that underpin human attributes, such as episodic memory, and speech and language. She was part of the team that identified the FOXP2 gene, the so-called “speech gene” that may explain why humans talk and chimps do not! She is also credited with the discovery of the amnesic syndrome in children. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/wy0TJyMlChs

In this presentation of artworks, Lindsay John will attempt to convey, not only some methods used in their making but more importantly, the concepts behind them, inspired by the all-embracing Baha’i teaching of Unity and a mysterious ancient Chinese Jade Disc both of which influenced and shaped their evolution.

Lindsay John, originally form the Caribbean, came to Britain to study both Fine Art Painting and Sculpture over a period of ten years before moving to Scotland in 1980. There he began a self study in experimental dance combining aspects of sculpture costume and site specific instillation into unique performance works taking him as far as Japan to study Butoh, from which he derived courage and direction.

Works include the thematic solo performances ‘Before Form’ presented in Britain, Japan, Singapore, Spain and Italy among other National and International choreographic and costume collaborations. He also worked as Lecturer in Art & Design at Ayr College, Scotland (1998-2006) before finally retiring from predominantly Performance based art works in 2009 to return to the Fine Arts.

Lindsay is presently practicing as an Artist in both Sculpture and 2D Mixed Media at WASPS Artists Studios, Glasgow where he is now settled. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/lOh3Osf8PDY

The furniture designer and master craftsperson Philip Koomen takes you on his creative journey that began in 1975 when he was inspired by Baha’u’llah’s vision of the role of the arts and crafts in an unfolding global civilisation. Following his presentation Philip will welcome a discussion on the nature of creative practice.

“The source of the arts, crafts and sciences is the power of reflection…” Baha’i Writings

Philip’s creative practice explores the relationship between craft, design and art in balance with an ethical and sustainable practice; a meditation on beauty and truth.

He has completed over 1800 commissions including in the UK, USA, France, Germany, The Netherlands and Japan. He designed and made the meeting table for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the UK. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/xi1eDXP4mPI

In 2006 he was awarded a doctorate in Sustainable Furniture Design from Brunel University for developing his practice from Forest to Furniture.

In 2013 Philip was awarded an Arts Council grant to develop his creative process “Ideas in the Making,” which explores how ideas can evolve through the playful manipulation of materials.

As a Visiting Senior Fellow at the Open University, he researches how craft workshops train the next generation of entrepreneurial craftspeople. He has trained over twenty aspiring designer-makers, ten of whom have established their own workshops.

He holds a Life Fellowship from the Royal Society of Arts and Fellowships from the Institute of Wood Science and Chartered Society of Designers.

He has received numerous citations including:

The organic vitality of his designs reveals the oneness and humanity of his creative approach’ -- Professor Simon Olding, Director of the Crafts Study Centre, U.K.

Absolutely beautiful -- Channel 4

Organic and wildly eccentric--The Independent

…one of the finest craftsmen in wood in Britain today. -- BBC Homes & Antiques

During the 19th century a massive movement took the religious world by storm. Inspired by prophecies in the Bible and the Quran, people from all countries, cultures and religious backgrounds were convinced that the ‘return', as mentioned in their Holy scriptures, was imminent. Did anything happen, and if it did, why has this extraordinary history been forgotten?

Carolyn Sparey Fox is a professional viola player, having worked extensively in London and Scotland as a soloist on BBC radio and TV, toured and recorded with many British orchestras and chamber groups, and performed in the first London production of Jesus Christ Superstar. But for the purpose of this Fireside talk, Carolyn’s interest in the subject of 19th century Adventism came about shortly after becoming a Baha’i in 1992. Years of research initially resulted in a play, “Threads”, with several performances in the UK, followed several years later two books which were published by George Ronald, and which resulted in an invitation to appear in “The Gate”, a film on the history and background of the Bab and the importance of His role in the history of the Baha’i Faith. To view the video visit our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/HxIX6vpNXpo

This talk will explore how the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program was developed by the worldwide Baha’i community as a gift to be used by all, whether Baha'i or not. We will reflect on this in relation to Baha’u’llah’s vision of a spiritually and materially prosperous world. We will then end by outlining some of the Program’s characteristics and principles and how they connect to the broader vision and aims of the Baha’i Faith, which are centred on contributing to the material and spiritual progress of local communities around the world.

Everyone participating in the program, from the junior youth themselves to the animator (the facilitator of the junior youth group), the parents, as well as other members of the community who contribute to expanding and strengthening the program, are part of a process of learning about the implementation of the program in their community. Throughout this process, we all draw on experiences from around the world which enhance our ability to implement the program in our locality. While no one can be seen to be an expert, we all have varying levels of experience and at times it is helpful for someone who has been serving in this capacity for a while to support those who are just beginning. This kind of support is one that helps each learn and advance. I have been an animator for 10 years, in several different communities across the UK and so have been part of this process during that time. To view the video visit the YouTube channel https://youtu.be/_XYRspwNcrc